Maha housing arm lists lawmakers among low income groups; draws flak

MUMBAI: The decision of Maharashtra government's housing arm Mhada to include MPs and MLAs in the low income and economically weaker sections while announcing auctioning of a new set of flats for different categories has drawn flak from activists and Opposition Congress.

Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) today came came out with an advertisement of auctioning 972 flats in August though lottery system.

The state-run body has reserved 19 flats for sitting or former MPs and MLAs, of which 13 apartments fall in the categories of Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Lower Income Group (LIG) and Middle Income Group (MIG).

The criteria of falling in these income groups has been fixed on the basis of monthly income -- up to Rs 25,000 for EWS, from Rs 25,001 to Rs 50,000 for LIG, from Rs 50,001 to Rs 75,000 for MIG and Rs 75,000 or above for Higher Income Group (HIG).

Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam slammed the housing body and said its move was "totally unwarranted".

"This is shameful. Flats meant for poor people are being reserved for MPs and MLAs. This government stands totally exposed. This should be rectified immediately," he said addressing a press conference.

RTI activist Anil Galgali said he was shocked to see flats for weaker sections and lower income group being reserved for MPs and MLAs.

"This is unbelievable. How can MPs and MLAs be treated at par with people who fall in weaker sections and lower income groups? This is unjustifiable and should be rectified immediately," he said.

Galgali said he has shot off a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also serves as Chairman of Mhada, over the issue.

"I am not against reservation of flats for MPs and MLAs. What I am opposing is encroachment on the rights of needy people by MPs and MLAs," he said in the missive.

He demanded that those MPs and MLAs, who have already got flats under government schemes, be barred from applying for Mhada apartments.

Meanwhile, applications for Mhada flats, spread across the metropolis, will be available for sale from tomorrow. The name of allottees will be made public after a draw of lottery on August 10. Apartments built by Mhada are cheaper than those made by private developers and their ads attract a large number of home buyers in the space-starved metropolis.